tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117737583687870302018-03-07T15:36:11.719-08:00Stitch and StuffJanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-43020933010979453022012-01-20T09:05:00.000-08:002012-01-20T09:09:28.316-08:00Rumparooz Give AwayIn case anyone is interested, there's lots of giveaways going on at The Slacker Mom for the 30 Days of Dipes event this month! http://www.theslackermom.com/events/30-days-of-dipes/<br /><br />Here's the link for the Rumparooz One-Size Pocket diaper (any color you want) giveaway: http://www.theslackermom.com/sweet-pickles/, sponsored by My Sweet Pickles! http://www.mysweetpickles.com/i_142/Rumparooz-One-Size-Pocket-Diaper.htm<br /><br />Go check it out, along with the other giveaways, and try to win something fluffy! :)Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-34979734739480865002010-05-17T09:27:00.000-07:002010-05-22T16:37:19.313-07:00DIY: Housekeeping week 3Last week went great! I even added a downstairs-cleaning day where the floors got mopped, the kitchen got surface cleaned, the microwave got cleaned, the tables and chairs got a thorough scrub-down, and the entire downstairs got dusted! I did not work on my crafts last week, however. I was too distracted because my husband accepted a job offer! We are very excited since we have been waiting for this for eight months.<br /><br />Here is this week's checklist. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> indicates "finished on Monday", <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> = "finished on Tuesday", etc.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daily Tasks:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Morning:</span><br />Get dressed, including glasses, shoes, hair and make-up <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span><br />Make bed <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> S</span><br />Clean bathroom sink, surfaces, toilet, dust and spot-clean <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span><br />Get girls dressed <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span><br />Do girls' hair <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span><br />Make girls’ beds <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span><br />Start a load of laundry <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span><br />Breakfast for girls and myself <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span><br />Put away dishes <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span><br />Wash breakfast dishes <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Check dinner plan and defrost or crock pot if necessary <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Afternoon:</span><br />Wash lunch dishes <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span><br />Start dinner prep at 4:00, 1:30 if defrosting bread <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Start dishes during dinner prep <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Fold and put away laundry <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">After Dinner:</span><br />Put kids to bed <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Finish dinner dishes <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Wipe down kitchen <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Sweep kitchen floor <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span><br />Pick up house <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Put glasses and keys in purse <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Charge phone if needed<br />Put together diaper bag if outing is planned <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bedtime: </span><br />Bedroom floor picked up <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Drawers shut and surfaces clutter-free <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This week's tasks:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday:</span><br />Empty trash cans <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br />Dust <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span><br />Clean mirrors <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span><br />Scrub around sinks with a toothbrush <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span><br />Vacuum <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span><br />Purge mail <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday:</span><br />Change sheets <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span><br />Deep clean this week’s house zone for 15 minutes <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span><br />Work for mom <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday:</span><br />Work on Tiana doll or G's dress <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday: </span><br />Work on Tiana doll or G's dress <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday:</span><br />Bake bread <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Clean out purse <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Declutter car <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span><br />Wash car if needed <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span><br />Finish Tiana doll <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Worked on other doll</span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-923658989281818072010-05-12T10:46:00.000-07:002010-05-12T10:54:38.170-07:00Meet Oliver<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rrKW7xvTI/AAAAAAAAAKs/HbHMvoj8Af8/s1600/Oliver+9.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rrKW7xvTI/AAAAAAAAAKs/HbHMvoj8Af8/s320/Oliver+9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470443260582411570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rqKqo-n2I/AAAAAAAAAKM/fknVeweOMeg/s1600/oliver+11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rqKqo-n2I/AAAAAAAAAKM/fknVeweOMeg/s320/oliver+11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470442166360645474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rqKYBx4aI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ZOpzyL2_apA/s1600/oliver+10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rqKYBx4aI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ZOpzyL2_apA/s320/oliver+10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470442161364394402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rqJrG6ENI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/fLhjOjW_WZY/s1600/Oliver+8.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rqJrG6ENI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/fLhjOjW_WZY/s320/Oliver+8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470442149306306770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rqJE6imUI/AAAAAAAAAJs/shjefLrBK6k/s1600/Oliver+7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rqJE6imUI/AAAAAAAAAJs/shjefLrBK6k/s320/Oliver+7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470442139053889858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rqVhWvbVI/AAAAAAAAAKk/HJUaPPmFQgU/s1600/oliver+14.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rqVhWvbVI/AAAAAAAAAKk/HJUaPPmFQgU/s320/oliver+14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470442352846794066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rqVA6GMrI/AAAAAAAAAKc/OXMeLi3K6JA/s1600/oliver+13.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rqVA6GMrI/AAAAAAAAAKc/OXMeLi3K6JA/s320/oliver+13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470442344136716978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rqU0aNpAI/AAAAAAAAAKU/ZDE-BhJ1-Ps/s1600/oliver+12.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S-rqU0aNpAI/AAAAAAAAAKU/ZDE-BhJ1-Ps/s320/oliver+12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470442340781761538" border="0" /></a><br />This is Oliver.... a custom 14-15" boy doll with espresso hair and eyes, tan skin, and rosy cheeks! His hair is made of a cotton/linen blend yarn. He is on his way to his new home and I miss him already!Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-34929155833119794562010-05-11T15:52:00.000-07:002010-05-17T09:26:31.452-07:00DIY: Housekeeping week 2Last week was pretty good. I got the majority of my daily stuff done but let a few minor things slide since the kids were sick. This week I'm fighting the laziness bug and winning so far... we'll see how I've done by the time Friday comes!<br /><br />Here is this week's checklist. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> indicates "finished on Monday", <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> = "finished on Tuesday", etc.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daily Tasks:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Morning:</span><br />Get dressed, including glasses, shoes, hair and make-up <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br />Make bed <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br />Clean bathroom sink, surfaces, toilet, dust and spot-clean <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br />Get girls dressed <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br />Do girls' hair <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br />Make girls’ beds <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br />Start a load of laundry <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"></span><br />Breakfast for girls and myself <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br />Put away dishes <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br />Wash breakfast dishes <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br />Check dinner plan and defrost or crock pot if necessary <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Afternoon:</span><br />Wash lunch dishes <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br />Start dinner prep at 4:00, 1:30 if defrosting bread <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span><br />Start dishes during dinner prep <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span><br />Fold and put away laundry <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">After Dinner:</span><br />Put kids to bed <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"></span><br />Finish dinner dishes <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"></span><br />Wipe down kitchen <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"></span><br />Sweep kitchen floor <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Pick up house <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"></span><br />Put glasses and keys in purse <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br />Charge phone if needed <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Put together diaper bag if outing is planned <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bedtime: </span><br />Bedroom floor picked up <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">S</span><br />Drawers shut and surfaces clutter-free <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This week's tasks:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday:</span><br />Empty trash cans <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> M</span><br />Dust <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span><br />Clean mirrors <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span><br />Vacuum <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><br />Purge mail <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span><br />Finish Oliver clothes <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday:</span><br />Change sheets <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span><br />Deep clean this week’s house zone for 15 minutes <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span><br />Work for mom <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span><br />Doll photo session and ship <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday:</span><br />Meal plan <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span><br />Make grocery list <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span><br />Henry's Market for produce <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span><br />Work on Tiana doll<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday: </span><br />Stater's grocery shopping <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span><br />Asian market shopping<br />Work on Tiana doll<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday:</span><br />Clean out purse <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"></span><br />Declutter car <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span><br />Wash car if needed<br />Work on Ginny's dress<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday:</span><br />Work on G's dress<br />Family over for G's birthday <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">S</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"></span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-6329438936760854532010-05-03T19:03:00.000-07:002010-05-07T21:56:07.734-07:00DIY: Housekeeping!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1209862"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S9-a1dkpNOI/AAAAAAAAAJk/pncytzyKWvE/s320/clean+laundry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467258715913139426" border="0" /></a><br />Confession: While I am 100% a Suzy Homemaker, I am messy. No, I don't mean I leave the dishes unwashed for three days straight or forget to vacuum every week, I mean I leave my dishes unwashed for a week and a half and my kids' spaghetti stays stuck to the floor until it dries, sits there for a week, and gets carried off by an army of ants. My house gets GROSS. For the time being, we are living with my parents, so my level of grossness needs to be contained for their sanity. All the same, our bedroom constantly overflows with half-unwashed, half-washed-but-not-folded laundry piles that evade each other's territory, receipts, fliers, books, DVDs, boxes that need to be stored, bags that need to be sorted, etc, etc, etc. The kids' rooms aren't much better, just less centralized.<br /><br />In March, just before we left on our Ohio trip, I did a complete overhauling of our rooms. The laundry was finished, folded and put away. The papers were sorted and filed or tossed. Boxes and bags went to storage, even more went to the trash, Goodwill got their share of the pile, and I got reacquainted with the sight of our bedroom floor. Then I vacuumed, dusted, and we took off for Ohio. We stayed with dear friends of ours, a couple with three children around our kids' ages. During our ten days there, I took note of the housekeeping practices of my friend. I was amazed that with an extra child (with the energy of three kids combined in a single body for that matter), a bigger house, and more obligations, she kept a relatively neat house. If it had been spotless, I wouldn't have noticed, but the floors regularly had crumbs, toys weren't immediately put away, and they went to bed with a few dishes in the sink most nights. What was she doing to keep the crumbs, dishes and toys from turning into an entire house that internally explodes within 24 hours of being cleaned??? Whatever it was, I wanted it. I hate my messy tendencies and hate that I have to be ashamed of my house or my bedroom.<br /><br />I don't know how it came about, because I didn't come home with a plan or a thought to change, but I shortly after arriving home to my freshly cleaned living space, I discovered www.flylady.net. I thought "this is PERFECT! It's just the sort of system I could actually get behind and USE!" The great part is, you don't start big... just do one "baby step" the first day, add something else in addition the next day, and so on until you've slowly developed a series of routines that maintain your house and keep it from exploding on itself.<br /><br />Since I don't have a whole house to myself, I've changed things up. I don't shine my kitchen sink like she lists as baby step #1... I started by making my bed everyday instead. I cannot believe the difference in two months! I spend about 20 minutes each morning doing maintenance and getting ready, I have a few designated tasks throughout the week, and I make dinners off of a flexible meal plan. Suddenly it's all clicking!<br /><br />For my own benefit (and yours if you wish!) I will be posting my progress on here every week, the good and the bad. I promise to post fun crafty stuff too! I called this "DIY: Housekeeping" because I have the same attitude toward housekeeping that people often have with the DIY mentality. It's easier not to do it, even if it is a healthier, cheaper, and something to be proud of. I know I'm not the only one in this boat, so check out www.flylady.net if you need somewhere to start! Of course it's not perfect, and some of my issues are as follows: 1. her website and some of her emails are very corny and out-of-date, 2. if you receive her emails you will get a constant stream of testimonials about how amazing her cleaning products are (pure unadulterated self-advertising) when she says she believes in using what you already have, 3. she wants you to spend a portion of your day perusing her website almost from the get-go when internet use is probably the #1 time-waster of homemakers in the US. I personally avoid internet like the plague until my morning routine is done, or I'll never get started. But cut out the parts that don't work for you and give it a shot! You might be as surprised as I am!<br /><br /><br /><br />Here is this week's checklist. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> indicates "finished on Monday", <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> = "finished on Tuesday", etc.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daily Tasks:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Morning:</span><br />Get dressed, including glasses, shoes, hair and make-up <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Make bed <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Clean bathroom sink, surfaces, toilet, dust and spot-clean <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Get girls dressed including hair <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Make girls’ beds <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Start a load of laundry <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Breakfast for girls and myself <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Put away dishes <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Wash breakfast dishes <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Check dinner plan and defrost or crock pot if necessary <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Afternoon:</span><br />Wash lunch dishes <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Start dinner prep at 4:00, 1:30 if defrosting bread <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Start dishes during dinner prep <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> W</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Fold and put away laundry <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">After Dinner:</span><br />Put kids to bed <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Finish dinner dishes <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Wipe down kitchen <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Sweep kitchen floor <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Pick up house <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Put glasses and keys in purse <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Charge phone if needed <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">T</span><br />Put together diaper bag if outing is planned<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bedtime: </span><br />Bedroom floor picked up <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Drawers shut and surfaces clutter-free <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This week's tasks:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday:</span><br />Empty trash cans <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> M</span><br />Dust <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span><br />Clean mirrors <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span><br />Vacuum <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span><br />Purge mail <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">M</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday:</span><br />Change sheets <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span><br />Deep clean this week’s house zone for 15 minutes <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span><br />Work on Oliver doll <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">T</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday:</span><br />Work on Oliver doll<br />Look for Nepal photos <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday: </span><br />Work for mom<br />Work on Oliver doll <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">T</span><br />Quick grocery store trip <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">W</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday:</span><br />Clean out purse <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Declutter car <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">F</span><br />Wash car if needed<br />Finish Oliver dollJanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-71358007577832108872010-04-16T12:40:00.001-07:002010-04-16T13:05:02.707-07:00Easy and awesome cake for the amateur cake maker!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S8i9Uuw2TDI/AAAAAAAAAJc/LfXiEoNmZuM/s1600/img+132.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S8i9Uuw2TDI/AAAAAAAAAJc/LfXiEoNmZuM/s320/img+132.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460822712034675762" border="0" /></a><br /><br><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">One last post on my daughter's birthday and I'll move one... I promise! I know it was already two months ago! To be honest, I just haven't taken pictures of my other projects lately and the birthday pictures are easily accessible. Haha! I'm just that lazy.</span><br /><br><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">OK! So my daughter wanted a Cinderella castle cake. This might seem like a simple undertaking for a creative cake-maker, but cake-making seems a little out-of-reach for me. I mean, I know I could make it taste good, but food presentation, especially with decorative frosting, is not my thing. I am a self-labeled imperfectionist and perfect swirls of frosting are not going to come out of my frosting tube, I guarantee it. So with that in mind, I set out to make a simple cake in a castle shape... at least convincing enough for a four-year-old. </span><br /><br><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I started by making an ice cream cake. I lined a 9x13" pan with parchment paper and mixed up some confetti cake from a box. Once baked and cooled, I lifted it from the pan and cut it in half. I took a box of strawberry ice cream and cut it in half so I had two slabs, each piece about the size of one half of the cake. I sandwiched this between the two cake halves and cut the cake sides with a bread knife to the edge of the ice cream slab. Next, I cut away the four corners and placed two ice cream cones (cake style) in each corner, first an upside-down one on the base, then a right-side up one on top of it. I used a little ice cream to stick them to the cake and between the cones to stick them together. Once it was covered in plastic wrap, I stuck it in the freezer overnight. The frozen ice cream stuck the cones in place like glue and made the cake very simple to frost! </span><br /><br><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The next morning, I used a simple buttercream frosting (colored blue of course!) and covered the entire thing... cake and cones. I thought I would have to work quickly to keep the cake from melting, but it turned out that the frozen cake hardened the frosting as I went and made the frosting much easier! I finished with a few sprinkles, but with any imagination and time this castle could be decorated quite elaborately! All in all, this was one of the easiest frosted cakes I have ever made! </span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-2195076117623675352010-04-10T13:40:00.001-07:002010-04-10T14:34:21.906-07:00Holly, the princess fairy costume doll!<a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S8DieDCC3LI/AAAAAAAAAIk/8Bjf3ozoBBE/s1600/img+209.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S8DieDCC3LI/AAAAAAAAAIk/8Bjf3ozoBBE/s320/img+209.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458611754210876594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">It has been six weeks since my older daughter's birthday, but we've been living in hectic chaos since then... traveling out of state, having family in from England, my brother and sister-in-law's wedding reception in the backyard, birthday parties, events, you name it. Sadly, my little crafty blog took a back seat for a few weeks, but here is the long-awaited post about Holly and her princess dresses!</span><br /><br /><br><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Holly is a 17.5 inch tall waldorf doll with light skin tone, big blue eyes, and shoulder-length light brown hair. To encourage bonding to her princess-and-fairy-loving mama, I included five outfits for playtime: Snow White, Cinderella, Tinkerbell, Belle, and Ariel.</span><br /><br /><br><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Snow white:</span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S8Dkzc-4B5I/AAAAAAAAAIs/oYbaL4dPumA/s1600/img+242.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S8Dkzc-4B5I/AAAAAAAAAIs/oYbaL4dPumA/s320/img+242.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458614320977414034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">This dress was made almost entirely from leftover scraps. The skirt was remnants left over from the Belle costume I made this winter. I am planning on listing it on my Etsy site in the fall. The trim on the bodice front was leftover from the Aurora costume in my girls' dress-up stash, and the sleeves are extra material from my older daughter's birthday/Easter dress.</span><br /><br /><br><br><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Cinderella:</span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S8DmDHEcjwI/AAAAAAAAAI0/fTkCjBgfKuI/s1600/img+227.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S8DmDHEcjwI/AAAAAAAAAI0/fTkCjBgfKuI/s320/img+227.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458615689484734210" border="0" /></a><br /><br><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">This dress was also made from the birthday/Easter dress remnants. The underskirt for both this and the other full-skirted dresses is a simple tulle tutu with long pieces of tulle tied around an elastic loop. It fills out these full skirts very nicely. The sleeves and peplum are made of bubble organza from Joann's... I have never tried it before but it was on sale. I was very pleased with the effect, although I would not have left the edges unfinished at the sleeves if I realized it would fray, but it has been very minor.</span><br /><br /><br><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Tinkerbell: </span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S8DnYHDCknI/AAAAAAAAAJE/96aFSyThFgE/s1600/img+234.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S8DnYHDCknI/AAAAAAAAAJE/96aFSyThFgE/s320/img+234.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458617149767717490" border="0" /></a><br /><br><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I had to experiment with her wings to come up with this effect. I used bubble organza in lavender and sewed a simple butterfly wing shape. I then used thick decorative aluminum wire from the floral section to make the wing frame and stitched the organza closed around it. I then attached the wings to an elastic loop that goes around Holly's waist. The dress snaps in the back around the wings.</span><br /><br /><br><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Belle:</span><br /><br><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S8DocbJb0qI/AAAAAAAAAJM/oIUegN-kh_o/s1600/img+241.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S8DocbJb0qI/AAAAAAAAAJM/oIUegN-kh_o/s320/img+241.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458618323394351778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">This dress was a last-minute add-on. After finishing the rest, I still had quite a bit of yellow material left over, but it turns out it was just barely enough! Each of the skirt swags is made of two very slim crescent shapes sewn together, and this was the last part I cut out of the fabric. After the last of the 16 crescents was cut, I literally had no fabric scrap large enough to make a 17th if it had been necessary! Talk about making good use of my yardage!</span><br /><br /><br><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Ariel:</span><br /><br><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S8DpdD25atI/AAAAAAAAAJU/XUPxjfrx5c0/s1600/img+250.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S8DpdD25atI/AAAAAAAAAJU/XUPxjfrx5c0/s320/img+250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458619433834080978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">This was a fun little creation! I had been wanting to make mermaid costumes for waldorf dolls for a long time, so I had time to think on how this would be done. There are some adorable waldorf mermaid dolls, but I had not seen anyone make a costume to turn a normal waldorf doll into a mermaid. This was my solution and it turned out great! The top is basically the same as Bell's underdress, but with ribbons as a halter instead of tank straps. Instead of a dress skirt, it is tapered up a bit in the center and finished. The bottom is a stretchy costume material with sequin-dots, and stitched onto the bottom, which extends just past Holly's feet, are strips of green tulle, lavender bubble organza, and the green costume dot material. She is also wearing some Mardi Gras beads here, but even without them, so is a very convincing mermaid!</span><br /><br /><br><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course, being the fiercely independent sewer that I am, I took much poetic license sewing these to make them fit the project in my head, but I started with Simplicity 5705 for general pattern pieces of all princesses except Ariel. Thankfully with a 17.5 inch doll to work with, it was easy to find an American Girl pattern with all the princesses I needed rolled into one pattern! </span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-8053077054310160782010-03-08T18:14:00.000-08:002010-03-08T20:35:21.164-08:00How to get your hair to look like a shampoo ad.... without the shampoo!<a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1210007"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S5XOpNFFd3I/AAAAAAAAAIc/lg-eXXBERb0/s320/hair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446486531655432050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">First off, I want you to picture a shampoo hair model. Think of the last Pantene commercial you saw... the lady with the thick shiny hair magically waving in slow motion in the air as she struts down the street, every strand shining like gold or copper in the sun while a bunch of guys in suits stop and stare. Or think of the hair celebrities flaunt as you're trying to check out at the grocery store. OK, now imagine someone told you that model or actress stopped using shampoo a year ago. "WHAT??? Ewww!"... is it? I second ago that was the most fabulous hair you could imagine! Sounds impossible, but it's not. Over the last couple of weeks I have been experimenting with the Curly Girl method, also affectionately known as the No-'Poo method. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Now, WHY would I even consider such a thing? I'm really not naive enough to think I could stop washing my hair and no one would notice. I'm a fan of personal hygiene. I don't want to stink. The truth is, I fell into the no 'poo method without meaning to. As most of you know, I try to do things the "natural way" as much as possible, so when I ended up with an extreme case of dandruff this fall, I was hesitant to use medicated shampoos. A bottle of Suave was the beginning of my dandruff misery, so I first switched to an all-natural organic shampoo. This made an incredible difference in my hair texture, but my scalp was still in ruins. Before I headed out to by some T-Gel, I searched online for natural remedies. I found several that I could try from ingredients in my kitchen, so I started testing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">1. Olive oil. At my next shower, I took about 1/4 cup of olive oil and a comb and massaged my scalp and combed for about 15 minutes. Conclusion: REALLY hard to wash out, messy, and didn't seem to make any difference. I have since learned it should have been hot oil, but I was ready to try something else.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">2. Baking soda. I made a paste from about 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup warm water from the shower. Mix it up and apply it to the scalp, massaging vigorously particularly in heavy dandruff areas. Baking soda is highly alkaline, so especially in hard water conditions it must be paired with an acid or your hair will end up feeling gunky and unwashed. So, after this wash I used....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">3. Apple cider vinegar. I mixed about 1/4 cup ACV and 1/4 cup warm water and poured it over my scalp and massaged it in gently and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes. Both the baking soda and apple cider vinegar methods were recommendations for dandruff, and needed to be paired together to work properly. The soda exfoliates and removes dirt and excess oil and the vinegar balances pH, soothes the scalp, and works as a natural conditioner.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">4. Herbal tea. This same shower I decided to go for the gusto and try another ingredient: peppermint tea brewed just like I was going to drink a hot cup, but instead left to cool a bit, poured over the scalp, and left to sit for 5 mins. I read that herbal teas were excellent for hair, adding nutrients and repairing damage. Finally, I washed with my organic shampoo and called it a day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">My conclusion after this shower.... meh, it worked a bit, but wasn't terribly impressive. I decided to try it again after noticing a few less flakes, and my scalp was again a bit clearer. Each shower seemed to heal my scalp a little more. But then two things happened: my husband decided to try my scalp experiment instead of buying T-Gel, and my daughter squirted the rest of my organic shampoo down the drain.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I casually mentioned to my husband as he headed to the shower with his vinegar, baking soda and tea, that I read this weird method where they skip shampooing entirely. I think it appealed to his scientific nature and he came out a while later announcing he had gone without shampoo. I felt his hair.... perfectly normal, actually. Smell... just a tiny trace of vinegar if you stuck your nose right in it. Interesting. A week into this method and he still looked good... and smelled good too since he took to finishing with peppermint tea! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I, on the other hand, was onto new hair woes. My organic shampoo was down the drain thanks to a four-year-old who was playing "clean the shower" with it. Months ago I had used and loved Giovanni's Triple Tea Tree Treat or whatever it's called, so I had a bottle under the sink to use when my current shampoo ran out. It's all-natural, but not organic. Alas, my love for it died that first shower when my skin started itching everywhere it touched, likely a reaction to the essential oils which I tend to be sensitive to. So the next shower I took the plunge and skipped shampoo for the first time. I did my scalp routine: baking soda deep massage, rinse well (because you don't want to become a human volcano experiment when mixed with the next ingredient), vinegar soak, rinse, tea soak, and rinse. My reaction? Wow. My hair felt AMAZING!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It has only gotten better since!!! I haven't "washed" my hair in a day and a half and it looks and feels softer and cleaner than it normally does straight from the shower! My scalp is nearly cleared up and no longer itches. I looked in the mirror this morning and thought... whoa, is my hair </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">shiny</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">??? It has amazing body, a nice natural sheen, and apparently can go for days without feeling dirty. Why did I not know about this before?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">How does it work? Or more importantly, why do you not end up a stinky grease-head after a few days? It turns out that it's the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">shampoo </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">that causes your hair to become oily after a day or so. Shampoos, like most soaps and detergents, are particularly good at removing oils. In this case, it strips all the natural oil from your hair and your scalp produces extra oil to make up for it. Left alone, your scalp will balance out, providing just enough oil to keep your hair healthy and beautiful. This means most people have a "detox" phase for a few days before the gorgeous hair kicks in. Also, many shampoos have silicone in them which gives an artificial shine but coats each strand of hair and causes build-up over time. The no 'poo method allows the silicone to sluff off and lets your hair shine on its own.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It seems to me that the use of baking soda and vinegar is more often called "no 'poo" while using conditioner to clean hair called "curly girl" but they seem somewhat interchangeable. Anyhow, another way of doing this (which I haven't tried) is buying a nice, silicone-free, preferably natural conditioner and using this as your shampoo. This method works mainly on friction, so working the conditioner into your scalp in a circular motion and working it into the hair for a period of time is essential. The moisturizing properties of conditioner don't have to fight shampoo, so it leaves your hair feeling very soft. This method might take longer for your hair to adjust to, but again, I haven't tried it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I gave you the amounts of baking soda and apple cider vinegar I use for scalp recovery, but from what I've read, most people use considerably less of each for day-to-day use, even down to a tablespoon. That's my </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">favorite </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">thing about the no 'poo method... it's SO cheap and it's all stuff I already had in my cupboards... you can't get more DIY-happy than that! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Give it a try! You know you want to.</span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-47942655147303357602010-03-03T23:06:00.000-08:002010-03-03T23:46:30.211-08:00The last couple of weeks<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I have been a bit distracted from my blog upkeep for the last couple of weeks. For one, I had my 4-year-old's birthday gift and party to plan and work on. For another, we decided it was time to visit family out-of-state, so we have been busy planning for that. Also, I've been trying to finish up a few of the many projects I have been working on. It has been largely a success!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Hannah's birthday gift (to be showcased on here soon) was finished the evening of her birthday, so she was able to open it after dinner. This is the tradition gift-opening time in our family, so I wasn't running</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > that </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> late. Her birthday party went over well. The festivities included craft time (of course!), homemade pizza for lunch, and lastly, a fairy hunt where each girl followed a long twisty, tangled trail of yarn to her very own waldorf fairy styled to look like the little girl who found her! Oh, and how could I forget the fairytale castle ice cream cake?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Our travel plans would normally be straight-forward since we have made this trip many times, but this particular time I had to come up with winter wear for the girls which included trips to thrift stores, Children's Place winter clearance ($1 for a pair of knit, fleece-lined mittens in toddler sizes!), and unearthing stuff in our own stores that haven't been touched in months. I also had to labor over which disposable diapers to bring since we can't check luggage this time and therefore don't have room for a huge cloth diaper stash. This is a quite confusing task for a cloth-diapering mom, actually. Do I really have to spend $15 for a week's worth of diapers? How do I know they'll work? Do I get the expensive ones in case the cheap ones leak, or is that a silly waste of money? And most importantly, how am I supposed to keep her pants on with no cloth to hold it up? ...This is a legitimate concern. My children have no butts but are heavy wetters, so at this age, the waist bands are let out to accommodate for huge diapers. Without that, their pants fall to their ankles. But, without too much grief, I have purchased diapers for the first few days of the trip. Next, how to pack for a lengthy trip when we can't check any luggage? Thankfully we'll be staying with our friends who have three kids around my girls' age, but it is a daunting task nonetheless. Then came the biggest problem by far... my husband found out he needed to be home during one of the trip days! We managed to shuffle meetings and flights and now I am taking one daughter and my husband is following a day later with the other. Phew. Nothing insurmountable, but still time consuming.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">In the rest of my time, I have been trying to finish up some of my mostly-completed projects. Just tonight I finished the slippers that I posted about a couple of weeks ago, I am a mere ten rows + decreases from finishing my cabled hat, and this morning I stitched the wig onto my little cowgirl waldorf doll, Tiana. I will try to get pictures posted of my projects as they finish.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">But here's something to get started with: a picture of the birthday party after the little fairies were found!</span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S49lDtgjQaI/AAAAAAAAAIU/SPwfPyDlCrE/s1600-h/fairies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S49lDtgjQaI/AAAAAAAAAIU/SPwfPyDlCrE/s320/fairies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444681588944355746" border="0" /></a></span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-1278833851769581542010-02-22T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-22T08:00:04.986-08:00Fairytale invitations<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S3esw9u_OUI/AAAAAAAAAIM/Fb0S-iy-3-Y/s1600-h/birthday+invite.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S3esw9u_OUI/AAAAAAAAAIM/Fb0S-iy-3-Y/s320/birthday+invite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438005032278505794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">To make the invitations for Hannah's party, I started with a piece of white scrapbooking paper and painted the general shape of hairdos, faces, dresses, crowns and wings all over the paper, being sure to paint a little askew and messy. After the paint dried, I used a black gel pen (G2's are my favorite) to draw the fairies and princesses. I took the idea from the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.amazon.com/50-Fairy-Things-Make-Fairies/dp/0794523927">Usborne book, 50 Fairy Things to Make and Do</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, which gives lots of cute examples to copy, although the princess crowns were my own idea, as were some of the hairstyles, wings, etc. After the ink dried, I cut out the shapes. The pink paper is also sturdy scrapbooking paper and the clouds paper is a digital scrapbooking paper by </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.the-lilypad.com/store/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=41">Emily Merritt</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, overlaid with a low-opacity box and text in Photoshop and printed on normal computer paper. Fonts are mostly by </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/">Kevin and Amanda</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. A double-sided foam tape would add depth to this kind of card, but I didn't have any around. I think it is cute without it but it would add a nice touch! I ended up with a few left-over fairies so I decorated each envelope front with them. I expected to have lots of fairy and princess rejects, but oddly enough I only threw one out! I guess the style is very forgiving... and they sure are cute!</span></span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-40980964391540214012010-02-20T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-20T08:00:03.736-08:00My portable craft station<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S3el-rQk7qI/AAAAAAAAAH8/ZL1tjZ2Vkow/s1600-h/organizer+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S3el-rQk7qI/AAAAAAAAAH8/ZL1tjZ2Vkow/s320/organizer+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437997571255889570" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >I have the best husband. This Christmas he got me this amazing craft organizer and it has saved my sanity where crafting is concerned. I had previously "organized" my supplies by trying to keep track of 15 different shopping bags with items from 20 different projects, a FedEx box of fabric, a baggy of yarn, a gift bag with a knitting project, a paper bag with a half-finished doll, a drawer full of fabric pieces, elastic and a couple patterns, a shelf with knitting needles and tulle, scissors hidden in one of those bags, a tape measure was around there too, no clue where that pin cushion got to.... I could go on, but you get the point. Total. Chaos.<br /><br />So on Christmas Day I brought arm loads of supplies downstairs, piled them up and started sorting. In the end, I had my well-stocked organizer, a box of fabric, a bag of yarn, and no more clutter! Now, when I need scissors or a tape measure, or a safety pin, or a specific thread color, or </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >anything, </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >I know right where it is! I love how easy it is to haul around too. It is getting heavy with all I have packed into it (much more than in the pictures!), but I have saved myself so many trips upstairs and down just by keeping all my supplies in one tote that I can bring to any part of the house.<br /><br />The grand tour: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S3emC7TkSEI/AAAAAAAAAIE/6OJwX5qymDw/s1600-h/organizer+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S3emC7TkSEI/AAAAAAAAAIE/6OJwX5qymDw/s320/organizer+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437997644282873922" border="0" /></a><br />Front: Scissors pocket for sewing and craft scissors<br />Pocket for rotary cutter and seam ripper<br />Pocket for knit fabric scraps (for doll necks and noses)<br />Main compartment has pin cushion, safety pins, craft sand, cellophane bags, size 0-15 circular needles<br />Tiny pockets for crochet hooks, cabling needles, yarn needles, metal and leather thimbles, machine oil, machine lint brush, machine needles of various kinds, dressmaker pencil, regular pencil, chopsticks, doll freckles pen, ballpoint straight pins.<br />Sides: pocket for pattern envelopes, pocket for my homemade patterns, velcro, straight knitting needles, rubber bands, embroidery thread, dental floss, red beeswax crayon<br />Back: pockets for buttons, tape measures, hand-sewing needles of various kinds<br />Main compartment for lint roller, bandaids, ribbon, size 0-15 DPNs<br />Zipper pocket: elastic, twill tape, short cotton stockinette lengths<br />Inside area: thread box and cotton yarns</span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-86467431212429741852010-02-19T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-19T08:00:06.355-08:00Mary Jane slippers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S3efSlk9baI/AAAAAAAAAH0/159XyKypFsg/s1600-h/mary+jane+slippers+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S3efSlk9baI/AAAAAAAAAH0/159XyKypFsg/s320/mary+jane+slippers+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437990216746757538" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Yes, yes... I know I didn't need to start ANOTHER knitting project right now, but I had to face facts. My feet are cold and my slippers had huge holes. I guess I got too jealous of my dollies all getting toasty little knit slippers so I broke down and started knitting. I'm making the pattern up as I go, starting with a simple toe-up sock method, cast off about 1/5 of the stitches and continued on. I intend to crochet around the opening in sock monkey brown and add two straps of some kind to the top.<br /><br />Remember when I said I turned Ginny's first blanket into a bunch of tiny projects? Here's more of that yarn... Caron Wintuk (heavy worsted weight). The sock monkey brown was for that blanket too. Good thing it was a cute combo even if the blanket didn't turn out!<br /><br />Also, remember when I said I was having trouble with my double-pointed needles? It turns out Caron Spa yarn is extremely slippery and extremely splitty, so it turns out I have having yarn trouble, not needle trouble. DPN's with a normal-textured worsted weight yarn was just as easy as everyone said it would be!</span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-76662411012657034602010-02-17T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-17T08:00:05.215-08:00Wordless Wednesday: Free fonts!!!<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Yes, I adore this fonts site. Check it out. It's all free.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/">http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/</a></span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-15555441887385730962010-02-16T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-16T08:00:08.932-08:00A note on thread<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S3eZGxR-w6I/AAAAAAAAAHc/Lk_83Q26ICA/s1600-h/thread+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S3eZGxR-w6I/AAAAAAAAAHc/Lk_83Q26ICA/s320/thread+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437983416660181922" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >I am in love with Gutermann. There, I said it. I am a thread snob and proud of it. I used to use whatever was cheapest, but I got so fed up with breaking threads and clogged sewing machines that I switched completely to Gutermann and think everyone else in the world should to. It is fabulous stuff.<br /><br />Why? Well, it might seem redundant, but because you don't have to worry about clogged machines and broken threads. Gutermann 100% polyester is the best all-purpose thread out there. It sheds less fiber than other threads and is stronger than other brands. If you sew with regularity, using Gutermann extends the time between machine services, so really, the few cents extra per spool pays for itself!<br /><br />And while we're on the subject, who says it's expensive<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S3edXCecjjI/AAAAAAAAAHk/A9c0TahGQB4/s1600-h/thread+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S3edXCecjjI/AAAAAAAAAHk/A9c0TahGQB4/s320/thread+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437988094200286770" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> thread? You can buy a small spool of 100 yds for $1.70 or so at most fabrics stores. Joann's puts their Gutermann thread on sale at 50% off very regularly--I think about once a month. That puts a small spool at about 85 cents. If you buy an economy spool (like my daughter is proudly showing off above and below) at half off, you will spend $4 for 1000 yards which works out to less than half the price per yard as the small spool. Not too shabby.<br /><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Lastly, I'll show off my current Gutermann collection because it makes me happy to think of how many projects I will get out of all those lovely colors! :)</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S3edfZH2bYI/AAAAAAAAAHs/lS5EqCN3-aU/s1600-h/thread+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S3edfZH2bYI/AAAAAAAAAHs/lS5EqCN3-aU/s320/thread+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437988237718482306" border="0" /></a></span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-33677179743230336992010-02-13T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-13T08:00:02.019-08:00My intro to soap making<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S29gj13eaPI/AAAAAAAAAHM/i_ulQ89W51c/s1600-h/soap+making+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S29gj13eaPI/AAAAAAAAAHM/i_ulQ89W51c/s320/soap+making+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435669444130924786" border="0" /></a>I love a good DIY project. It is so satisfying to know I saved money, did something useful, and cut one more item from our list of store-bought necessities, but even I know that making soap seems a little... pioneerish. However, I had a problem. My normal soap shop, <a href="http://www.bluehousesoaps.com/">Bluehouse Soaps</a>, closed temporarily for a family move last summer and has still not opened. Thankfully, just before closing, I ordered almost a year's worth of soap and hoped they would be back in business when my stock ran out, but alas... my last bar of all-natural "mermaid soap" is gone. I had to make a choice... try out a new online store (which I might not like, would likely cost more, and I would have to order a lot to justify the shipping), switch to all-natural soaps from a store (which aren't nearly as nice as homemade ones), or just make it myself.<br /><br />Why even both with natural soaps? It's mostly a sensitivity issue for our family. All four of us react in one way or another to agents in most commercial soaps. I have to be extremely careful with Ginny's soap because commercial soaps make her miserable, but many natural soaps dry her skin too much, so it has to contain oatmeal and other natural moisturizers... try finding a soap like that at Target! I am also leery of introducing unnecessary chemicals when they can easily be avoided. Who knows what's harmful and what's not, so I'd rather skip the SLS, phthalates, and perservatives when there are plenty of chemical-free alternatives.<br /><br />So, back to the soap making. After a shower with my shrinking bar of "mermaid," I set out to find out how hard it would be to make myself. I mean, I wasn't going to mix animal fat and ashes, but if there was an easier method it might be worth a shot. And I found one! A method known as "melt and pour" is the perfect start to making soaps just the way you want them with none of the nitty-gritty. Simply put, you buy a soap base, melt it and add your "extras" and let it harden again!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S29pRKd4pjI/AAAAAAAAAHU/HABhPUn-Xcs/s1600-h/soap+making+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S29pRKd4pjI/AAAAAAAAAHU/HABhPUn-Xcs/s320/soap+making+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435679018847872562" border="0" /></a>Like I said, we have sensitivity problems and Ginny needs that moisturizing element, so I went with two high-quality bases from <a href="http://www.brambleberry.com/Bramble-Berry-Bases-C11.aspx">Brambleberry</a>: one made with olive oil for moisturizing properties and one made with goat's milk for soothing properties. I got a couple of nice scents for Hannah and I, one that smells like oranges and strawberries, and one that smells like cookies. For Ginny and Lee who react to scents, I got some grapefruit essential oil which, in my experience, smells just like lemon meringue pie when it's put in soap! I had intended to mix the bases together, but just for fun, I separated them in layers and scented it like cookies for my first bar. The bottom base (goat's milk) is normally a pure white, but I mixed in organic baby oatmeal.<br /><br />Isn't it beautiful??? Who needs expensive soap molds when you have an empty margarine container! The soap smells like heaven too. In fact, my husband was so inspired by the delicious scent that he decided to make chocolate chip cookies while the soap hardened in the kitchen. Unfortunately, I had to cut the lovely bar in half so it would fit on a soap deck, but in doing so separated the two layers. They seemed to have melted together again, but I don't know how permanently! I guess mixing bases is a better way to start after all.<br /><br />My last "mermaid" is now completely used up, so I put my new soap to use this week and I have to say I'm impressed! The goat's milk base lathers up very nicely for a homemade bar soap and with all the extra moisturizing parts (olive oil, oatmeal, and goat's milk), my skin felt even softer afterwards than normal!Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-50148374546286381342010-02-11T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-11T08:00:07.658-08:00Paper doll chains<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2eU266PN8I/AAAAAAAAAGs/jzOzmoptHAw/s1600-h/paper+chain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2eU266PN8I/AAAAAAAAAGs/jzOzmoptHAw/s320/paper+chain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433475146693162946" border="0" /></a>This is a fun and easy craft for elementary-aged kids! Using a folded piece of paper, make a chain of dolls (or fairies, princesses, people, gingerbread men, etc.) to decorate! Your kids will love seeing their shapes unfold all holding onto the hand of the doll/fairy/person next to them!<br /><br /><br /><br />You will need:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2eR5nty-NI/AAAAAAAAAGk/oErIzgOAgJw/s1600-h/cutouts.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 288px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2eR5nty-NI/AAAAAAAAAGk/oErIzgOAgJw/s320/cutouts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433471894545430738" border="0" /></a><br />Paper<br />Scissors<br /><br />Craft supplies to decorate with, for example:<br />Crayons, pens, markers, colored pencils, etc.<br />Aluminum foil<br />Colored paper pieces<br />Yarn<br />Glitter glue<br />Tulle<br />Tape<br />Magazines<br />Bits of fabric<br />Ribbon<br /><br />Start by folding your paper in half the long way. Then fold it twice in the other direction. It helps your design to lay flat if you make these folds accordion-style. Next trace the outline of the shape you will cut out on the top section of your paper just like you were drawing on the front of a homemade card. Make sure that the hands extend to both sides of rectangle. I have created a couple of ideas for shapes here... the first can be used as a princess or a wizard and the second as a ballerina or a fairy. Once your design is drawn, cut it out through all the layers EXCEPT for the hands. Those need to remain attached on both sides for the chain effect to work. When you unfold them you will have two separate chains of dolls. You may use them separately, or tape them together. Depending on how you choose to decorate, you may wish to tape them together after they are decorated, or temporarily just from the backside.<br /><br />Now use your imagination and supplies to create 8 different versions of your shape! You can use fabric bits to create clothes, yarn pieces for hair or beards, colored paper for wings, aluminum foil to look like metal pieces or add shine, cut faces or hands out of magazines for your people, glue some ribbon to your princess' pointy hat... you name it! Get creative and have fun!Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-30465394683563880042010-02-10T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-10T08:00:00.330-08:00Wordless Wednesday: Valentine's Day mug cozy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/WebLetter/26/Mug1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 511px;" src="http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/WebLetter/26/Mug1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Doesn't this mug cozy make you feel warm and fuzzy inside? Using a simple stranded knitting (also known as Fair Isle knitting) pattern makes this mug cozy even thicker and warmer. It is a small project and uses worsted weight yarn and US 8 needles, so even those of us new to stranded knitting should be able to finish this for our loved ones by Valentine's Day!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/WebLetter/26/Detail2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 511px;" src="http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/WebLetter/26/Detail2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/WebLetter/26/Issue26.php">Click here</a> for the designer's website, the story behind the cozy, info on the yarn and on Fair Isle/stranded knitting. For the free pattern, look for the link in between the two cozy pictures on her site (Classic Elite Yarns).Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-88988397514445642592010-02-08T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-08T08:00:00.761-08:00Intarsia knitting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2zfLFje9nI/AAAAAAAAAG0/ViwvYIspb_s/s1600-h/Ginny%27s+Blanket+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2zfLFje9nI/AAAAAAAAAG0/ViwvYIspb_s/s320/Ginny%27s+Blanket+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434964231891908210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">I have successfully completed the top moss-stitch border on Ginny's afghan and have begun intarsia knitting the main blanket. Intarsia knitting is a method for knitting with 2+ colors where you can introduce a large solid block or shape of color in the middle of another color. I am using it to create a simple quilt block look. There isn't much to it... just make sure the color of yarn you are finishing ends up on top so the new color can go around it and lock it in place, then drop the old color and continue with the new one. Simple! All the color changes end up on the backside of your work, so it looks seamless and beautiful on the front. The tricky part is keeping all those different colors separated!<br /><br />This first row of intarsia knitting on my afghan has a white moss stitch border, a square of white, a square of watermelon (raspberry pink), a square of white, a square of blue mint (turquoise), and another white border. All told, five skeins of yarn going at once! Normally, intarsia knitting is done with smaller patterns where you can trail a couple of yards of yarn behind the work or create small "bobbins" by winding up a section of yarn so it pulls from the center (see photo below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21659123@N04/2170220285/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 454px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2058/2170220285_06de31a627.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Unfortunately, since each block of my blanket will require nearly a whole skein, there is no way to get around working with so many full skeins at once. The main hang up I am having now is having to untwist all of them from each other at the end of a few rows! But I am enjoying the color changes, the new technique, and seeing the project slowly take shape. Blanket progress: 5 inches down, 55 inches to go! Oy.<br /><br />Here is an excellent video on intarsia knitting, shown in both Continental and English styles: <a href="http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques">http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques</a> Scroll about 2/3 of the way down to "How to knit with 2 colors at a time" and intarsia knitting is the second technique.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2zf2PtbWMI/AAAAAAAAAG8/hELgTu-V_Z0/s1600-h/Ginny%27s+blanket+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2zf2PtbWMI/AAAAAAAAAG8/hELgTu-V_Z0/s320/Ginny%27s+blanket+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434964973352343746" border="0" /></a>Here is my blanket front where the intarsia looks seamless. (And my yarn is getting tangled!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2zgKKGubBI/AAAAAAAAAHE/tTx6piekIjg/s1600-h/Ginny%27s+blanket+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2zgKKGubBI/AAAAAAAAAHE/tTx6piekIjg/s320/Ginny%27s+blanket+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434965315445222418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And here is the backside with the strands twisted around each other at each color change.<br /><br />I realize my yarn is in a maternity clothes shopping bag, but I am not making any subtle announcements! It was just left over from a baby shower and a handy size. :)</span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-30028217086581648982010-02-06T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-06T08:00:02.708-08:00Adventures in cable knitting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2JCbJw8AFI/AAAAAAAAAGc/zazs3X2yXcc/s1600-h/cable+hat+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2JCbJw8AFI/AAAAAAAAAGc/zazs3X2yXcc/s320/cable+hat+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431977134807318610" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Up until recently I have been a rather timid knitter. I was content to knit and purl on straight needles and stuck to single-color patterns that required as few increases and decreases as possible, and preferably on nothing smaller than US 6 needles. I finally decided last month that, since I have been knitting off and on for the last five years, it is time to move on to some more advanced techniques.<br /><br />My first major discovery was <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/account/login">ravelry.com</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">! Yes, a majority of the patterns they list are not free, but there are so many that it doesn't matter! Excellent, cute, creative, impressive, stunning, and unique free patterns abound even if they are not the majority! One morning I casually browsed through patterns I ended up with ten saved that I "had to make," so it's plenty to keep even the most skilled knitter busy for years! I picked one called "Tillamook Cabled Hat" by Rilana Knits mostly because I loved the look and second, because I love the Pacific Northwest and Tillamook cheese, so the title made me happy!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My first challenge: learning a cable cast-on. </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/cast-on">This site</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> was extremely useful, with videos for both Continental- and English-style knitting. The cast-on itself wasn't hard at all... so why, you might ask, was I struggling and grumbling and hurling curses for three hours straight trying to cast-on a silly hat??? I'll blame that on my double-pointed needles. I had never previously used DPNs, but friends had assured me that they are harmless good fun and nothing to be scared of. Now surely a somewhat experienced (and timid) knitter like myself would be able to tackle them without a sweat, but apparently DPNs, cable cast-ons and myself do not work well together. Maybe the relationship just needs some work. In any case, at long last, I was fully cast-on and ready to start knitting-in-the-round.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After the cast-on, DPN's became increasingly less aggravating with each row, and by the time my 1 1/2 inches of hat ribbing was complete I started to pick up pace. After conquering those two hurdles, the challenge I had originally been scared to face, cabling, was a piece of cake. It was an "....oh, that's it?" moment in knitting for me. My progress so far is in the picture at the top of this post.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So take it from me, if you can knit and purl, don't be afraid of cabling! But you can go ahead and be afraid of your needles. After all, there's ten pointy ends to watch out for in a pack of DPNs. That's a lot of points.</span><br /></span></span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-31211297738538422422010-02-04T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-04T08:00:06.063-08:00Meet Kendra<span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39015245"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2I8nBHelLI/AAAAAAAAAGM/5rYwr2yQWBs/s320/Kendra+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431970741574603954" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >I just love this little doll! Kendra is 12" tall, has chocolate brown skin, espresso brown hair, black eyes, and rosy cheeks. I adore the print on her skirt... in fact, it is made from a remnant of fabric left over from an outfit I made for my own daughter's "baby." It is light pink with small doodles of hearts, flowers, four-leaf clovers, and bugs, and is covered with cursive-writing words like "play," "dance," "believe," etc.<br /><br />My favorite thing about Kendra's outfit is her hand-knit cotton tank top. I came up with the pattern for it specifically for this doll and it turned out so cute! It has a small band of ribbing on the bottom, stocking stitch on the body, and garter stitch on the straps. It buttons in the back for easy removal and looks so cute even without the layering shirt! I can see myself making lots of these tanks for summer dolls.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JanelsRainyDayToys">Visit my Etsy shop!</a></span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-13844802699595305152010-02-03T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-03T08:00:04.285-08:00Wordless Wednesday: Amigurami<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Come visit Stitch and Stuff on Wednesdays for a some amazing and inspiring craft ideas! I will post photos and links to projects that I think look fun and creative, but I haven't tried yet!<br /><br />This week: Amigurami! In other words, tightly crocheted or knitted stuffed animals and toys, often with oversized heads.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kzKRE3PGf3A/RrpxRIPw4NI/AAAAAAAAANI/2G9VSG0D-Ao/s400/100_0555_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kzKRE3PGf3A/RrpxRIPw4NI/AAAAAAAAANI/2G9VSG0D-Ao/s400/100_0555_2.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>An adorable little (and easy!) amigurami gnome!<br /><br /><a href="http://bellasartes.blogspot.com/2007/08/simply-gnome-free-pattern.html">L</a><a href="http://bellasartes.blogspot.com/2007/08/simply-gnome-free-pattern.html">ink to the pattern and blog</a><a href="http://bellasartes.blogspot.com/2007/08/simply-gnome-free-pattern.html"></a><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/109/269426384_98a39a4ad2.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 172px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/109/269426384_98a39a4ad2.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Easy ice cream cones! These ones contain small plastic cups for rigidity plus stuffing. <a href="http://ax174.blogspot.com/2006/10/too-cold-for-ice-cream-cones.html">Link to blog and pattern</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-CbRlIpgAmA/Rjn5MjpylDI/AAAAAAAAAB4/UEOINAgZKAw/s320/zequi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-CbRlIpgAmA/Rjn5MjpylDI/AAAAAAAAAB4/UEOINAgZKAw/s320/zequi.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>One of those oversized heads I was talking about: an adorable bear named Zequi! <a href="http://amigurumipatterns.blogspot.com/2007/05/zequi-bear.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">L</span></a><a href="http://amigurumipatterns.blogspot.com/2007/05/zequi-bear.html">ink to the pattern and blog</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/2553/jun06581pe3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/2553/jun06581pe3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://heavens-hellcat.livejournal.com/807.html">Amazing (and difficult) dragon pattern! </a>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-37879578172382466822010-02-02T08:00:00.001-08:002010-02-02T08:00:03.721-08:00Forget Bisquick<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2I_mhjd4KI/AAAAAAAAAGU/RKSncH3OI5M/s1600-h/waffle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2I_mhjd4KI/AAAAAAAAAGU/RKSncH3OI5M/s320/waffle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431974031636947106" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I have been baking all my life, but I didn't realize until last year that Bisquick isn't required for tasty, fluffy, and easy pancakes and waffles! We were looking to save money on our grocery bill and didn't feel like paying $4.50 for another box of Bisquick, so my husband went hunting for recipes and experimented with them as only a good scientist can. Within a few weeks of breakfast taste-testing, we had found ourselves a couple of great recipes!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Good-Old-Fashioned-Pancakes/Detail.aspx">Good Old Fashioned Pancakes</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (original, slightly different, from allrecipes.com)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 1/2 cups of flour</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3 1/2-4 tsp baking powder (more for fluffier pancakes)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 tsp salt</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 tbsp sugar</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 cup warm milk, add up to 1/4 more if it's too thick</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 egg, beaten</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3 tbsp melted butter</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sift together dry ingredients. Make a well in the center and pour the warm milk, egg, and melted butter inside (this helps ingredients to mix well). Mix with whisk until smooth.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cook like you would Bisquick pancakes: a little cooking spray or oil if needed, heat the griddle to medium heat, and cook about 1/4 cup sized pancakes until brown, then flip.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Classic-Waffles/Detail.aspx">Classic Waffles</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (original, slightly different, from allrecipes.com)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2 cups flour</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 tsp salt</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4 tsp baking powder (add to this if your waffles aren't fluffy enough)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3-4 tbsp sugar (beware, with 4 you may experience some caramelizing and sticking)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2 eggs, beaten</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 1/2 cups warm milk</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1/3 cup melted butter</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 tsp vanilla extract</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Pre-heat waffle iron. Sift together dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Make a well in the center and pour the eggs, warm milk, melted butter, and vanilla inside. Mix with whisk until smooth. Ladel batter into pre-heated waffle iron and cook until golden brown.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Enjoy!</span></span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-77713210707892505412010-02-01T08:00:00.001-08:002010-02-01T09:19:55.610-08:00A quick peek into my workshop<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">While I prefer making one doll beginning-to-end, more often than not I find myself making dolls in batches to save time. The current line up is planned as follows:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">-light-skinned 12" boy with blue eyes and brown hair, probably a little country boy or cowboy with overalls and a straw hat</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">-light-skinned 12" Asian girl with kimono or similar clothes</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">-tan-skinned 15" cowgirl with brown hair and eyes</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">-light-skinned 15" red head with green eyes and fairy wings</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So look for them in the next few weeks in </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JanelsRainyDayToys">my shop</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">! Of course, they might change slightly as I go, but that's the current plan!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm simultaneously making a 17 1/2 - 18 inch doll for my daughter's birthday next month. I have never made one quite this large and am having fun putting her together!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here is the line-up getting their legs sewn on:</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2Iy_VzkvwI/AAAAAAAAAGE/xpZ-qdAWzJ8/s1600-h/sewing+doll+legs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2Iy_VzkvwI/AAAAAAAAAGE/xpZ-qdAWzJ8/s320/sewing+doll+legs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431960164328849154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">All of my dolls come with their bodies and heads reinforced with a second layer of high-quality 100% cotton interlock, hence the white fabric on top... it will layer their insides when flipped properly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So there you have it... a small peek into my doll-making world!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JanelsRainyDayToys">My Etsy Store</a></span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-8135469924165799322010-01-30T08:00:00.000-08:002010-01-30T08:00:04.971-08:00New Year's resolution<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2IfNvUOmSI/AAAAAAAAAFs/mXgZNO1nDho/s1600-h/Ginny%27s+Blanket+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2IfNvUOmSI/AAAAAAAAAFs/mXgZNO1nDho/s320/Ginny%27s+Blanket+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431938421462309154" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Up until my crafting/DIY days began I never put any stock into New Year's resolutions. I am the sort of person who has the best of intentions but hit-and-miss success at actually changing anything. Not because I lack the willpower.... I just don't remember. I go to bed that night and it all seeps into my pillow and weeks go by before I remember my life-changing resolution. So I try to make the important resolutions more frequently in hopes that something will stick... and it happens occasionally.<br /><br />Starting two years ago I began to make New Year's resolutions for crafting, because that is something that is in my daily schedule and not likely to be forgotten. Instead, I search for the project that requires the most willpower... that project that has sat unfinished for months, the tedious monotony of making 50 of the same item, the project that never begins because it will be months in the making, or the project that cost more than you'd like to admit but in the long run will be much cheaper than buying the "real thing" but just seems to sit on the shelf. You know the type of project I'm talking about... the one that's lurking in the back of your supplies and the back of your mind... the one that will someday finish itself. Right?<br /><br />I decided to tackle one of these each January. I get the double satisfaction of completing a major project and successfully accomplishing a New Year's resolution at the same time. In 2008, I sewed five mei tai baby carriers, three of which were to be listed on my friend's cloth diapering website. In 2009, I sewed 35 medium-size pocket-style cloth diapers for my eight-month-old, Ginny, who had outgrown her smaller sizes. I also repaired some of her hand-me-down diapers from her sister and exchanged snaps for old velcro that no longer stuck. For 2010, I resolve to finally knit Ginny an afghan.<br /><br />Her older sister, Hannah, being the first born in our family, first of her generation in my husband's extended family, and the first girl born for quite some time at our church, received no less than five hand-knit or hand-crocheted blankets. She loves them dearly and one of them has the distinction of being her "special blanket." I had every intention of knitting Ginny a blanket before she was born, but never found the time. When she was an infant I bought yarn to begin one, but I didn't like the design I had chosen and the yarn slowly turned into hats and other smaller projects. Just after New Year's, my friend gave me a box of knitting patterns, and as I flipped through it I saw the sweetest baby blanket pattern by <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.annyblatt.com">Anny Blatt</a> and immediately sat down to rework the pattern.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2IqfNAVHQI/AAAAAAAAAF8/r94vhiEKMC8/s1600-h/Ginny%27s+blanket+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2IqfNAVHQI/AAAAAAAAAF8/r94vhiEKMC8/s320/Ginny%27s+blanket+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431950816117595394" border="0" /></a>It was originally in quite small dimensions with lightweight yarn on US 4 needles, but I rewrote it for Caron Simply Soft worsted weight yarn on US 7 needles and it will measure 60"x60" when it finishes. It is edged in over three inches of moss stitch and the center blocks are done in a "fancy pat" pattern that looks similar to <a href="http://minkydelight.com/minkydotfabric1.html">minky dot fabric</a></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > to me. On the white squares I will be embroidering a very simple flower shape. For the colors I am using all Simply Soft: White, Blue Mint, Limelight, Berry Blue, Watermelon, and Mango. I played with the colors for hours but couldn't come up with a good solution for the green flower above the green square, but I think it still looks fine, especially since the embroidery will be quite thin.</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >My progress so far is.... well, what you see in the picture at the top of this post. Not tons yet. But moss stitch is a slow stitch for me since it takes me a while to get a good rhythm switching between knit and purl. I have 20 rows done and have seven more to go before the blocking begins and I get to try my hand at intarsia knitting! But more on that later...</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311773758368787030.post-47077078418879644192010-01-29T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-06T12:30:17.171-08:00Meet Heidi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2Ia3QndVwI/AAAAAAAAAFk/TlPExAC92Ec/s1600-h/Heidi+6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_G1bolrZdZjA/S2Ia3QndVwI/AAAAAAAAAFk/TlPExAC92Ec/s320/Heidi+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431933637217834754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Here is a recent addition to my Etsy shop.... her name is Heidi. She is 12 inches tall, has lots and lots of sandy colored hair in my favorite super-soft cotton/modal blend yarn, blue eyes, light skin tone, and rosy cheeks. If I had been able to design a custom Waldorf doll as a child, she would have looked exactly like this! </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I have been making a lot of hand-knit shoes lately. Maybe because my own slippers are getting old and sporting enormous holes so I'm living my dream of new slippers vicariously through the dolls I make. Or maybe they're just cute! In any case, all my dolls come with an accessory, and this month it's mostly knit shoes!<br /><br />See Heidi in my Etsy Shop: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39014233">Janel's Rainy Day Toys</a></span><br /></span></span>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11558768410991352743noreply@blogger.com1